Category: Devotions

Everyone can play a part
Luke 23:26
When you are being led out God will always have someone coming in.

Even in your worst hour you can always lead people.

Simon was forced to carry the cross, it made him unclean and unable to participate in the Passover that he would have travelled weeks to come to the city for. He carried the cross to Calvary and how he walked away from that experience is unsure. On his return home he would say that he didn’t make it to the Passover but did he say that he actually carried the cross for the Passover lamb? I hope so.

Judas
Luke 22
Judas was part of the original discipleship team who spent 3 years with Jesus. It’s not how you start out that counts.

Judas had a political agenda and was probably disappointed in Jesus who didn’t become or do what he wanted, v2
The will always be people who share your same disappointment in God. Be careful of them.

Judas was available to the wrong person, v3
If the door is open it isn’t theft (U2 Cedarwood Road)

Judas had to journey to his betrayal, he discussed the topic and worked through a plan, v4
Betrayal is rarely impulsive.

Judas was able to please people, v5
Unity isn’t always the sign that all is good.

Judas handed Jesus over but actually Jesus had to be sacrificed, v7
The worst act can be sitting in the hand of God.

Christians deceived.
Reports of wars and civil disorder.
Nation fighting nation.
Natural disasters.
Christians seized, persecuted and imprisoned.
Betrayal.
Hate.
Fleeing to mountains.
Betrayal.
Jerusalem surrounded.
Family break-ups.
Luke 21

What year is this?
It is now.

I’m looking at you.
Luke 20
The parable of the tenants resulted in Jesus being under threat like never before because it was such a targeted story.
The vineyard is always Israel, everyone knew this. But this time Israel is not avenged with a happy victorious ending. The vineyard is removed from them.
May this never be! This was the cry of the people.
But Jesus was not looking at the people. He was looking at the leaders.
The leaders had become the enemies of the owner, of God.
They would no longer lead, the mission would be given to others.
True mission is to bear the image of God. To demonstrate His nature and character. To love. To reach others. To have compassion. To stand for justice.
This is the fruit that the owner looks for.
A failed Israel will have to embrace the Gentiles as God’s people.
God has a people and He has a mission for this vineyard, it is to bear fruit.
There will be people who accept this mission as a capstone, the cornerstone of their life, the foundation to how they live.
There will be people who trip over this mission and are hurt. But what is broken is their selfish living.
There will be people who will be crushed by this mission. They will be taken out not because they fulfilled mission but because they didn’t do it.
The mission is the stone, the stone is Jesus and we are called to represent Jesus in our life to those who do not know him. That is called fruit.
I’m looking at you.

Why the sycamore-fig tree?
Luke 19
Zacchaeus climbed a tree which had dense foliage, perfect for hiding from people and from Jesus.
But Jesus knows all the hiding places.

Zacchaeus had a perfect view to see who Jesus was. They had never met.
But Jesus already knew his name.

The sycamore tree has low lying branches perfect for children to climb. The wealthy chief tax collector became a child.
But Jesus particularly transforms adults with a child-like curiosity.

At this moment, as you read this …
He knows where you are.
He knows who you are.
Approach Him as a child.

You still lack one thing.

Luke 18
The rich ruler lacked one thing.
Only one thing?!
He was very good at doing things. He was near perfect when it came to the commandments. There was no lack in his duty.
He had accumulated great wealth. There was no lack there.
But he lacked one thing, there was no lack in his life.
What must I do to inherit eternal life?
It’s not your doing.
It’s not what you have.
It’s about what you don’t have.
There is no space. No lack. No need for God.
The enemy of our soul will tempt us to fill the void in our lives. To fill any emptiness. To search for satisfaction. To want more. To reach for and try and become someone who has it all.
The enemy of your soul doesn’t want you empty.
God wants you with lack.
For when there is lack there is faith for Him.
So today if you wake and there is pain, or there is unanswered prayer and so on, thank God that this lack in your life is being used for you to lean on God.

It’s obvious
Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather, so says Jesus at the end of Luke 17.
It’s obvious. What’s obvious?
As a boy the verses before this haunted me. Two men walking in a field, one taken and one will be left etc. The rapture. The gathering of Christians by Christ at the end of time. Frightening for a boy not because it looks so sci-fi, but because the boy may be left behind!
Films, songs, books, preachers, everyone seemed to be talking about it. One day I came home and there was no one there. I totally believed the rapture had happened. Both parents were gone, that was obvious. My brother was gone,that was also very obvious to me. But also the dog! Now that was something I hadn’t heard before. Half an hour passed by as I formed a plan for living on this earth on my own and then everyone walked in!
The disciples asked Jesus where these people would be taken to. And then Jesus gave the parable like answer about a dead body and vultures. He was saying I’m not going to tell you because it is so obvious.
With Jesus.
In heaven.
Forever.
And we get to go including me.

Rich and poor
Luke 16
There was a rich man
And there were men who were in debt, v1-5.
There was a rich man
And there was a beggar, v19-20.
They have always lived side by side.
The rich and the poor.
The rich who have little interaction with the poor on earth will have regrets later, v22-24.
But those who help the poor even if it’s for their own gain are to be commended, v8
Don’t forget the poor.
Don’t let the love of money blind you, v14.

Why did He run?

Luke 15

Why did the Father run?
Was it because He loved the son? Was it because He was so excited he was coming home?
Both those things but more.
The son had not only shamed his father. He had shamed the community.
The community held to the belief that children honoured their parents. It is the 5th commandment. In the Torah the curses and blessings are clearly emphasised for the disobedience and obedience of the children to their parents. At the time of Christ stoning was still being used for shameful sins. This kind of community policing is not just in the Jewish culture.
Even today in some tribal areas of Africa, community leaders will excommunicate a shameful person from their village announcing that the sinner never to be allowed to come back home.

While he was still long way off, the father ran …
Quick! Bring me the best robe …

Now why did the father run? Why was he in such a hurry to make his son look like his son again? He got to His son before the community leaders did!
There will always be a community that want to pass judgment on those who have sinned.
We need more fathers.

To impact the lowest you need to reach the highest.
Luke 14
Jesus didn’t solely focus on the poor and the helpless. To change the culture then the changers, the leaders, the rulers have to be changed.
We need the body of Christ there in the high places, in the homes of the movers and shakers.

1. Who is higher in authority to you that needs the Gospel? Maybe you should try and get a meal with them? v1

2. Remember wherever you go, whatever you do, people are watching. The words you use, the actions you take, it’s all being monitored. v1

3. Though you may be on a higher level for a moment always be prepared to stoop down to those who suffer. v2

4. Be prepared to break protocol. If reaching the sufferer offends culture then so be it. v3

5. Seek permission to offend. It shows that you care if the easily offended do get offended. If permission is not forthcoming and the sufferer is waiting then go with the sufferer. v3